Another day, another two stouts from McLaren Vale’s Swell – and they're not messing around either with both venturing well into imperial territory, housed in 500ml cans, and landing just weeks after their last pair of stouts.
The Dawny is their GABS 2021 festival beer, an imperial breakfast pastry stout that utilises fresh ingredients from local SA companies: organic Colombian single origin, cold brewed coffee from Goodness Coffee Co, whole croissants from Croissant D’Or, plus cocao nibs, vanilla pods, chai and milk sugar – not to mention a suggestion you enjoy this after a wintry, pre-sunrise surf.
If you follow their instructions, it would be a sweet ol' breakfast as a distinct milky sweetness comes through prominently, while the coffee and vanilla working well to make an almost hazelnut liquor vibe. A very faint bready flavour from the croissants is there amid the silky, creamy mouthfeel if you go hunting, with some roast chiming in to add bitterness, contributing to a subtle dry finish.
As for Double Black Diamond, it's a reference to the most challenging skiing runs, with this imperial stout thus intended as a treat after a day spent negotiating them. Big, thick and pitch black with a chocolate brown head, there's a lot going: espresso coffee, dark dried fruits, bitter dark chocolate all tie in with a touch of sweetness and a little balancing roast within a seriously full body. There's some warming alcohol right at the end, wrapping up this monster nicely.
Matt King
Published June 1, 2021 2021-06-01 00:00:00
